Fabric from old Metrodome roof to be sold as duffel, shotgun shell bags

With the welcome demolition of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Mall of America Field) looming as the Minnesota Vikings embark on the assumed final season at the old, rickety stadium before the team plays a few seasons at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus as it awaits the construction on its brand-spanking-new stadium to be completed, two entrepreneurs are ratcheting up the salesmanship in a bid to profit off the decision to purchase a huge hunk of the old roof after it collapsed in spectacular fashion during a blizzard in December, 2010.

According to a report from Charley Walters in the Pioneer Press, two Twin Cities-based businessmen, Jim Cunningham, the Twins’ game management voice, and Tim O’Phelan, son of late Twins physician Harvey O’Phelan, purchased three acres of the dilapidated, weather-stained roof for $4,000.

Cunningham and O’Phelan reportedly cut and cleaned the chunk of teflon by hand and made a deal with Duluth Pack, an outdoors apparel/gear business conveniently based in Duluth, Minn., to manufacture duffel bags and oddly, shotgun shell bags out of the refurbished material. The two entrepreneurs will receive a cut of the profits.

Said Cunningham: “We kept it out of a landfill,” adding, “And there’s a lot of history under that roof, including the 1987 and 1991 World Series championships. It’s historical memorabilia.”

Indeed it is. Folks in the Minnesota area can take a gander at the Metrodome roof bags at the State Fair in a few weeks.

This isn’t the first time someone has attempted to profit off the roof collapse. In April of 2011, anyone who was interested could have moseyed up to the Metrodome and bought a hunk of it for $4. What a deal.